Glen Feshie makes a lovely approach to Mullach Clach a'Bhlair, whose cairn stands towards the southwestern edge of the great Moine Mhor plateau. Much of the ascent is on a vehicle track but there are great views down into the twisting cleft of Coire Garbhlach.
Summary
Some stream crossings on the walk up Glen Feshie; the ascent of the peak is straightforward, mostly on a track. Plateau would be difficult to navigate in poor conditions; alternative descent route given is steeper and rougher.
Terrain
NN850985
Grid ref
22.5km/14 miles
Distance
Grade
NB. Hillwalking when there is snow on the hills requires an ice-axe, crampons and winter skills and experience.
Users'
rating
There is no public transport up Glen Feshie.
Open Traveline Scotland
Public transport
1. Take the road up the east side of Glen Feshie (signed Achlean); just after the road leaves the forest there is a good size car park on the left, about a kilometre short of Achlean itself, where parking is no longer allowed. Begin the walk along the road, and at Achlean take the path that climbs left above the farmhouse. Continue on the main, surfaced path, ignoring the small path that curves behind the farmhouse; a short distance another path branches off to the left; again keep on the main route. Go through a gate near a plantation; there's a stream to cross just beyond - usually fairly straightforward but it could be trickier after heavy rain. The path now runs along the edge of a heather bank elevated above the flood plain of the river. Continue along the heather bank until the path descends steeply to reach the Allt Garbhlach. Again the stream here could be tricky to cross unless the water level is low.
2. On the far side, keep right and follow the grassy path across the floodplains fairly close by the river; this gives easier going than the bank top below the plantation. The view up the glen is becoming increasingly beautiful as scattered mature Scots pines spill down to the wide River Feshie. When the main forest ends and a boggy plain stretches ahead, it is best to keep amongst the trees to the left rather than head straight ahead through the squelching tussocks; soon you will meet a track coming down from the left; follow it to the right to come close to the river once more. Soon the track forks; follow the left branch.
3. A short distance further on a cross-roads of tracks is reached; turn left here onto a fainter track. This begins to ascend up from the floor of the glen and soon the pinewoods are left behind. The track begins to climb high above Coire Caol before heading towards a little bealach on the left hand ridge between Meall nan Steac and Cadha na Coin Duibh.
Photo ©James Gibb, licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence.
4. The track itself is something of a scar on the landscape, but short detours to the left reveal some spectacular views down into Coire Garbhlach. The track skirts the side of Cadha na Coin Dhuibh before coming close to the edge for even more dramatic views down. Continue the ascent onto the flat plateau, where the landrover track eventually forks.
Photo ©Colin Park, licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence.
5. Take the right hand fork and follow it for about three quarters of a kilometre before leaving the track to make the final gentle ascent to the cairn on Mullach Clach a'Bhair at 1019 metres. The flat terrain robs the view of any depth, the most impressive feature probably being the vastness of the soggy plateau stretching across to Braeriach and Carn Toul. The easiest descent is to return the same way; another popular option is to traverse the rolling plateau to the north to reach Sgor Gaoith and include another Munro in the day, before returning down the Hunter's Path from the south flank of Carn Ban Mor to Achlean. A third option is described here; descend southwest down the Druim nam Bo ridge.
Photo ©John S Ross, licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence.
6. Skirt round the north side of Lochan nam Bo before continuing southwest. A large, well built cairn on Creag na Gaibhre. From here a well-engineered old path, somewhat overgrown zigzags down northwest, crossing the Allt nam Bo before plunging into the forest of Upper Glen Feshie. It leads to Ruigh Aiteachain, an open bothy maintained by Mountain Bothy Association volunteers; please do your bit to help by keeping the place tidy and carrying out any rubbish you find here; it is also appreciated if you can leave a report on the state of the bothy at its webpage on the MBA website. Follow the glen north along the valley floor, either fording a stream or detouring to a plank bridge on the right, to return to the cross-roads where the glen was left earlier. Continue straight ahead here to continue back down Glen Feshie by the outward route; alternatively you could follow the other side of the river as described in our Glen Feshie circuit - note: at present this alternative is not possible because of the destruction of the Carnachuin bridge which won't be replaced until Summer 2010 at the earliest.
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